*Vivian's POV*

Where is this girl? I hope she is fine, otherwise Maya will lose trust in me. It's my mistake. I should have told everyone about the boundary of the forest. I am responsible for everything here.

Ritz has not even visited India before, which makes it worse. I'm tired now and it's already twilight. The sun is vanishing behind the mountains making my way even more risky. It's a forest, not a park. There could be many animals around.

I alarm myself. My eyes are getting dimmer and dimmer. I need some rest but after my mission 'Find Ritz'.

"Aah. . .arh. . .help! Help! Please...I'm dying!"

Cries hit my eardrum. They are coming further away from where I am standing. I follow them.

"OH GOD HELP ME! HELP?!"

They are much louder now definitely someone, no some girl is in trouble. I rush nearer.

"HELP! MY LEG IS BROKEN!"

She is crying now. I dash towards her and finally reach my her.

The poor girl is. . . .

"VIVIAN! OH MY LORD! LOVE YOU GOD!" She throws some flying kisses in the sky. I arch an eyebrow in amusement.

"What are you staring at! Come rescue me! AH!" She cries in pain.

"Thank God Ritz! I am so happy that you are in here. I've been searching for you since-" Her expression stops me from talking further. Her face is wrathful.

"What?! Are you happy to see me like this! You mean. . ." She trails off in need of some air. Before she can burst into something else I start explaining.

"I meant that you are safe and nothing much happened to you." I emphasize on the word much. She can get psyched up any minute. She just glares at me and I lean down to take a look at her injury. It's silent everywhere, only our breaths are audible.

"Oh, you have got a severe sprain." I confirm her injury.

"How do you know? It's just a wound right?" Ritz asks. Fear is written on her face.

"Yup, it's a wound but your muscles are strained." I tell her to make her understand, in a much soothing manner. She is like my baby sister too.

"No you cannot see anything in the dark." She whines.

"I have a torch." I tilt the torch light in her face to make her realise it.

"Okay! Okay! But help me stand." I give her a hand and she takes it.

"No! leave me!" She cries and I leave her falling on her butt.

"What happened?" I ask her with concern.

"I cannot move my leg. It hurts! Ouch..." She groans in pain. I think it's hurting her too badly.

"Try again." I encourage.

For a couple of minutes Ritz tries to stand but falls back down again, when my cellphone rings. It's Neil.

"Vivian come, I have the goodest news!"

"Goodest news?!" I chuckle at his grammar.

"Yeah! Sorry best news. Ritz picked up her call and said she is coming. I'm so glad. Come back-"

"Ritz is with me." I state and Neil is dumbfounded at the movement but then overwhelmed and shouts in the phone. I hang up the call before my eardrums burst.

"You cannot stand, I need to carry you." I imply.

"But. . but-" Till the time she finishes, I lift her and start walking.

"Are you a heavy weight champion?" She asks like a baby.

"No, but you are not that light." I tease and she rolls her eyes.

**

About 10 minutes later we reach the place where the other two are waiting. Neil is sitting by the tree on the mat and Maya is already asleep. When I march towards them with Ritz on my back, Neil's eyes move from my legs to my head. He shimmers with happiness.

"Finally! You guys are here. I was going insane. I called you so many times Viv, why didn't you pick up my call?"

"I was carrying someone, I couldn't reach my cell. And because of your calls I was irritated and-"

"Why were you carrying her?" Neil crisps.

"Because I got a severe sprain or cramp and a wounded leg. I cannot even stand. Sorry Viv!" Ritz answers on behalf of me with the cutest apology. She is already my little sister.

"It's okay." I say in a bored yet happy tone,"Neil check if we have any antiseptic cream and a pain relief spray?"

Neil searches the bag and I stare at him with expectation."Nah, only an antiseptic cream. No spray." Neil informs and licks his lips.

"That's fine, at least her wound can be cured. Get me some water." I order and make Ritz sit on the mat next to Maya.

"Please be soft," Ritz looks at me with innocence in her eyes. I cannot melt for them like Maya does. She told me that Ritz's strongest weapon is her puppy eyes.

"Don't be a child. You are brave, right?" I smirk, to tease her.

"Don't talk to me as if I'm a baby!" She grumbles. I chuckle and Neil gives her a glass of water.

"Then stop acting like one." I tease her with a smirk.

I start to mend her wounds with the first aid kit. Many moans and complains fill my ears, coming from Ritz's mouth. Neil and I laugh a lot at her. Because of her sister's yells, Maya wakes up.

"Ritzy!" She adjusts her shirt and engulfs Ritz in a breath choking hug, "I was so worried. I literally fainted. But now you are fine, I guess." She speaks and her eyes direct to the wound.

"It's Ritz!" Ritz jokes to her over protective sister. Maya pulls away and slaps her arm.

"Dumbo! Tu kabhi nahi sudaregi.[You will never change.]" Maya scolds her.

Ritz giggles and holds her ears in apology,"Sorry! Just kidding." Ritz chirps. These sisters are really noisy.

"Fine! You are forgiven," Maya huffs,"What happened to your leg?" Maya asks, concerned like a mom.

"A wound and a sprain. And I cannot walk now. Just this much."

"Stop making fun. It hurts and you need rest," Maya paused,"How did you-"

"Thanks to your fiancé!" Ritz says confidently, like she is proud of me.

"Oh Viv! Sorry for all the trouble you had to go through. Thank you." Maya gives me a squeeze and I grab her firmly. "Love you." She whispers in my ear and my whole body relaxed.

"Love you too."I coo. "By the way your sister is brave enough to fight a small bleeding." I speak in her hair. A giggle escapes Maya's mouth.

I get out of the hug and slip a hand around Maya's waist, "We are leaving. It's nine. It's too late to be in this forest." I say leading the way to the car until Ritz's question breaks out:

"Who will carry me?!"

"I'm going. Neil you manage this please," I plead. Neil sighs and nods. "She is much lighter than you expect." Maya and I laugh.

*Neil's POV*

Every bad thing has happened to me today.

Rain.

Lost girl.

Now I have to carry the girl.

I say some cursing words to the almighty in my mind and check my watch. It's late.

Just think that you are picking up a feather.

"I'm not as light as a feather." Ritz chuckles. Did I say it out loud? Well yeah. I slip an arm around her waist and the other goes under her knees and her hands hold my neck. Vivian is right, she is not that heavy.

"You aren't fatty." I remark.

"As if you thought I was," Ritz says arrogantly but in a joking way.

"I did think so!" I correct her and also poke at her over confidence. She gives me a bored face and I return it with a smirk.

She blinks her eyes a little and rubs them. She looks too cute like this.

Cute? Did I call this arrogant girl cute? Well she's not too arrogant. I continue to walk the distance to the exit. Vivian and Maya are much faster, now I cannot even see them.

Darkness.

I wait to take some rest as someone is lying in my arms. I glance at Ritz. Is she asleep? This makes the journey much more boring. But she looks so innocent, hiding the wild cat inside her.

She mumbles some words which I don't get. I smile in reality. A curl of her hair lingers over her face due the wind. I have a strong urge to remove it but my hands are busy carrying her.

I have a strong urge to remove it but my hands are busy carrying her

Then I start to walk again. Am I lost? No, not in this forest, again.

"Neil! Come fast!" Maya says in a loud voice.

"Right here!" I exclaim . I think I am dreaming. About whom? No, about what? "I am mad!" I yell.

"Mad about what? Or about whom?" Maya says in a teasing voice. It feels like my brain is out of my skull and my thoughts are beholden by everyone.

I speed up as soon as I see the car parked.

I am exhausted. Carrying a girl non stop for 20 minutes is not fun. I sit on the passenger seat while Maya and Ritz sit behind. Ritz is sleeping in her sister's lap and Maya sits looking out of the window or at her reflection. We reach the hotel, Ritz wakes up and they leave the car.

"Do you want me to help you till the room?" Vivian offers but Maya shakes her head and starts for the lobby. We bide each other goodbye and set out from there.

*Ritz's POV*

"You look gorgeous!" I squeal. Maya and I are admiring her reflection in the mirror."I never knew Indian clothing suit you." She is wearing a long skirt (ghagra) with a shiny piece of art on it and a blouse which ends at her bust, exposing her stomach.

It is the day of one of the festivities or the first occasion in the Indian wedding called Roka. I don't know anything but it means that the couple is tarried for each other and. . . .well I really don't know.

"You should also go and get dressed properly." She stresses on the last word.

"Yeah." I am annoyed as I've been supplied with the same kind of clothes Maya is in.

I pull out a dress from my wardrobe. Then I go inside my dressing room. I change into my dress and stare at myself in the mirror. I have my hair straightened (as my hair is naturally curly) with a puff on top of my head. I am wearing those balloon bottoms which are called 'patiyala' and a kurti (Indian kind of long shirt).

I shove my feet into golden, silvery flats which match my kurti. I am looking pretty, I think to myself. But I am fed up of it from now itself. The dress is teasing me and I feel tingles on my skin. I step out of the dressing room and join Maya.

"J-just aw-wesome!" Maya stammers in a way to show her praise for me.

"Nah! I'm nothing compared to you." Maya is overwhelmed and she blushes. "I'm not Vivian, Mrs. Khurana." I say, tilting my head from one side to other.

"Ritz! Shh. . ." Maya keeps a finger on her lips to shush me.

"No one is eavesdropping." I state the obvious. Dumb girl. What's wrong in saying her future name?

"Diwaaron ke bhi kaan hote hain.[Even walls have ears.]" Maya whispers and starts to set her remaining hair.

"What?"

"Oh my dear! You don't know hindi. How could I forget!"

"I know a little bit!" I yell and Maya laughs in response. I cross my hands and glare at her.

"Mujhe nazar mat lagao! [Don't glare at me.]" Maya again makes me helpless,"Shut up!" I groan. She has found a new way to tease me. No she has bullied me through this all my life.

"Okay! Okay! I am sorry. Let's go, everyone's waiting for us." Maya suddenly makes me aware that we may actually be late.

"Yes. Let's hurry up." We both quickly leave the room and go inside the lift.

Roka is going to be in a small hall in the hotel. We are about to enter the hall when someone stops me.

"No! Ritz wait! The Mother and her sister, both bring the bride inside." My mom comes rushing in and I just follow her instruction.

"What kind of a rule is that?!" I vex.

"I'll explain later. Let's take her first." I give her a curious nod.

In fact I am not at all interested in what this means. We head towards the sofa were Vivian sits, continuously staring at my sister.

"Here you go!" Mom lets go of Maya and takes some steps back and stands with my dad. There are some people about, though not more than forty who are invited. Some are Khuranas, some our relatives from India and others are family friends.

It is just a little party which will end in three to four hours. I smile at the couple and walk out to greet people. I have been residing here for a week now. I've made some friends (Neil's buddies). I can see some of them talking to Neil.

I make my way towards them until Diya,

"BOO!"

I just stumble a bit but balance myself and sneer at her,"You cannot scare me, I'm braver than that." I tell her in a strong voice.

"Ah. . hah. That is flattering." Diya moans.

Diya is a kind of a typical Indian girl and Neil's close friend. She is stubborn and talks nonsense. Sometimes I get fed up with her but she knows how to cheer someone up. She is funny and idiotic. I got to know her when Neil and I used to hang out with his friend circle.

"I'm too good!" I poke my tongue out at her.

"Yes, tomorrow's school!" She squeals and even I join her. Yeah, I have been admitted to the Elite High in Dehra Dun. Tomorrow is my first day at school and I'm excited as well as nervous that this is my first year in India.

"Hey sweetheart! Where were you?" Diya's boyfriend Karan comes and hugs her.

"I am here! Vaise bhi hum dono bahot dino se kahi gaye nahi [Anyway we haven't gone on a date since long.] So lets take this as a date?"

"Sure! Why not?"

Diya and Karan excuse themselves and leave . She is the only girl I know and her family is close partners in business with Khuranas so technically she is invited. Same is with Karan.

Lonely again.

"Ritz!"

"Hey! What's up?" I accost Neil. How does he always pop up when I am all alone?

"I was looking for you. Where is Maya?" Neil questions.

"There," I point to the sofa where the couple is sitting. A loud applause erupts from the room and Mr. Khurana's voice comes from a mic.

"Can I have your attention please. Aaj mai bahot kush hoon aur ye din ka mujhe hamesha se intezar tha ki mera beta apne liye ek humsafar chunle aur woh din aaj hai. [Today I'm very happy. I've always been waiting for the day when my son chooses the love of his life and today is the day!] Thank you for spending your time with us. Please go on and enjoy the night."

Mr. Khurana finishes his few words which I somewhat understood.

Neil is chuckling lightly on my side.

"What happened? Why are you laughing?" I interrogate.

"You should have seen yourself when my dad finished his short announcement." Neil again starts laughing but it is inaudible.

"Leave it, let's go have dinner." Neil indicates his finger at the buffet's direction. He is leaving to get it but I grab his wrist.

"What?" He asks looking at my afraid eyes, "Did I say something wrong?"

"No, it's just that I'm a bit scared about tomorrow. If I cannot adjust with the people there,"

"You don't have to worry about that. If you enter the school with me then no one will bother you. You know and you are already beautiful-" He trails off.

Did he just call me beautiful?

*Neil's POV*

I cannot believe I just said that.

"I hope I won't face any problems there." Ritz understands my uneasiness and continues. But I must say that she is looking beautiful in her totally new form. Indian clothes look great on her.

"Actually. . .you look good. . . .I mean don't you feel awkward in this dress?" I blab. Ritz smiles and cackles at the same time. My cheeks starts to heat up.

"Thanks and this dress is giving me shivers, goosebumps, shocks and what not. I feel like tearing it off right here, right now!" She is looking at her dress with a malicious grin.

"Then what are you waiting for, tear it. You can catch people's attention here," I give her a smug look and that annoys her.

"If you would have said this a week ago I swear I would have buried you alive!" She scorns.

"I am hungry, shall we go ahead."My stomach starts grumbling.

"Yeah!" She heads towards the dinner.

**

"Ew, you don't have manners."

"Sorry, after eating, it feels so good!"

"You smell so bad...arh..."

"Thanks to my undigested food!"

Ritz and I are full and she suggests to go for a walk for good digestion. So scientific which reminds me to ask her a question.

"So how are your grades so far?" I enquire to know whether she is a duffer or a topper.

"Straight A's!" she proudly tells me and my doubt is cleared. Topper.

"Awesome! I got one 'B' but other all are A's." I informed feeling a bit small in front of her. Wait! Neil is never small in front of anyone.

"That's nice."

We stay silent after that. Walking in the jungle area is relaxing with the creepy sounds of birds and insects. All of a sudden a car comes up from behind and I pull Ritz with me to the edge of the road as we were walking in the middle of the road.

After safely holding her in my arms I realise the close proximity between us. Adrenaline is rushing in my blood. When I face her, I observe that she is also staring at me. Our eyes are locked for what feels like hours. There are goosebumps on my skin, I don't if it is because of this newfound intimacy or is it just because of the cold wind around us. Neil, this is nothing. Ritz is just a friend. A new friend. Don't even think about it.

"Thanks." She whispers and cuts off my idiotic thoughts. However right it feels, now is not the time. I release her from my hold and instantly feel cold. Oh no, Neil get over it. And we begin walking back to the hotel.